Submarine mine.



E. SCHNEIDER.

SUBMARINE MINE APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1|. 1916.

1,229,797. Patented June 12 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

VIIIIIIII A LI /IIIIIIIIIII E. SCHNEIDER.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1915.

1 ,229,797. Patented June 12, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- E. SCHNElDER.

SUBIVIARINE MINE.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 1-1, 1916.

1,229,797. PzitentedJune12,1917.

I3SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig.3.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, 01 LE CREUZOT, FRANCE.

SUIBMABINE MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1917.

Application fi1ed February 11, 1916. Serial No. 77,709.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L'Euoisnn SonNEIDnR, a citizen of the Republic ofFrance, residing at Le Oreuzot, France, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in or Relating to Submarine Mines, whichis fully set forthin the following specification. A Submarine mines are, known which arecomposed of two elements (a float and the mine proper) held inengagement by a suitable means, while a tensile device of suitablelength extends between the float and the firing apparatus. When a mineof this type receives a shock, the float and-the mine proper aredisengaged, with the result that these two elements are moved away fromeach other, so that the mine is fired when the tensile device becomestaut, thatis to say, when the mine proper has moved away from the floatthrough a distance equal'to the length of the tensile device.

Now the present invention has for its object to provide a particularlysimple form of submarine mine of the type specified hereinabove.

A main characteristic feature of the in vention consists in apeculiar-means of enga'gement between the float and the mine proper.

The mine proper is provided on its upper side .with a suitable number ofcramps; for this purposefit is formed preferably with bosses in whichhorizontal pins are mounted ,for an equal number of rollers. The mineproper engages by means of these roller .cramps upon lugs or bearingsfrom the underside of the float.

- Owingto the inertia of the mine proper suspended in this manner, therotary movement which is imparted to the float, provid'd with antennae,by the action of a powerful shock, will cause the disengagement of thetwo elements, andeffect in the projecting known way the firing of themine charge by the tensile device connecting the firing device to thefloat becoming taut. The invention consists also-1n a simple apparatusfor sinking the mine on the expiration' of a determined length of timewhen the mine is arranged as a floating mine. a

The invention is illustrated in its application by way of example to afloating mine in the accompanying drawings wherein?- submerged mine,showing its elementsre- Figure 31- isan axial section of, the 'mine;

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views of a spectively in the positionsthey occupy before impact, and after impact when the explosion is aboutto take place. F:

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a modification.

As-shown, the upper portion of the box A containing the explosive chargeis'provided with brackets a, three in number for instance, in which arefixed or with which are formed integrally the pins 6 of vertical rollersB which are arranged to .bear upon three corresponding bearings O fixedto the bottom of the float D. These rollers are situated at equaldistances from the axis of the mine, and at 120 degrees from oneanother.

Each of the pins 6 has a recess in which there engages the rod 6 of apiston E which is impelled by a spring 6 and is arranged to work in acylinder F fixed to the bearing C. -A block G of readily solublesubstance, for instance, sugar, serves to 'keep the rod in its recess inthe pin 6 so long as the mine is not submerged.

The upper part of the mine proper A is further provided with three otherbrackets a which are situated between the first three, and which carrythe pins 6 of three horizontal rollers B that bear uponv threecorreeponding brackets C fixed to the underside of the fioat.

Inside the mine casing A which is annular in cross section, there isprovided in the usual manner the percussion. cap box H containing adetonator h fixed to the mine cas ing in a watertight manner by anysuitable means. Opposite the detonator, the head of the mine casingcomprises a recess in which a friction fuse J is fixed which isconnected by a brass wire K of determined length to a cross piece 03fixed to the float D. The

4 brass wire is coiled in a funnel L which is i.provided on the head ofthe mine casing and able number are fixed to the float radially and areintended to take the impact of the colliding vessel and to transmit thesame to the float.

The float is provided with an aperture N which is closed by a cover 0screwing upon a union n for holding a soluble plug P. The melting of thelatter causes the mine to sink to the bottom at the end of a determined.length of time if the minelhas not been struck before.

The operation of the mine is as follows Before subm'erging the mine (ligs. 1 and 2) the mine proper is connected to the float by means of therollers B engaging the corresponding bearings. The safety rods 0 whichare kept in their recesses by the soluble plugs G, prevent any untimelydisengagement of the mine proper. The horizon-, tal rollers B" assurethe centering ofthe whole-while facilitating the rotarymovement at theproper time.

The mine when placed in the water remains at the surface-(Fig. 5). Aftera very short time the melting of the plugs G releases the rods e whichare attached to the float and which on being impelled'by their springs(2 move out of their lodgments in the pins B. The mine is then ready foroperation.

From this instant onward, if, the hull of a ship strikes the antennae ofthe float, the latter will rotate, while the mine proper remainsstationary owing to its inertia. The bearings C will move away from theroll- .ers B (Fig. 8) and the mine will sink and pay out thewire K thatconnects the fuse to the float.

When the wire has been paid out com: pletely, that is to say when themine proper I has sunk to the predetermined depth, the

v e the explosiontakes place.

friction part of the fuse is pulled out and Thesoluble plug .P begins tomelt as soon as the mine is immersed in the water, and at the endof adetermined. length of time, owing to the continued -melting, wa-

ter enters the float and causes the mine to sink if it has not beenpreviously struck by a ship.

In cases where it is desired to diminish 7 and its operatiolr'is thesame as in thepreceding arrangement, the main float rising to thesurface as soon as it is released from the mine proper A.

The means of engagement /consisting of cramps and bearings (the crampshaving preferably the form of rollers as hereinb'efore described) mayobviously be reversed, that is to say, the rollers may be attached tothe underside of the float and the bearings may be carried by the mineproper.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letmally maintaining saidmine and float in unitaryrelationship but adapted to become disengaged upon relative rotation ofthe mine and float, and means adapted to fire .the mine upon separationof said mine and 3. In a submarine mine, in combination w th the mmeproper, a float, means on the mine and on the float adapted when engaged to hold theniine and -floatin unitary relationship but adapted tobe disengaged by relative movement of the mine-and float, and meansadapted to fire the mine upon separation of said mine and float.

4. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,means on the mine and on' the float adaptedwhen en-fgaged to hold themine and float inunitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged byrelative rotation of the mine and float, and means adapted to fire themine upon separation of said mine and float.

5. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,hook-members on 111116 mine and on the float adapted when engaged tohold the mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to bedisengaged by relative'rotation of the mine and float, and means adaptedto fire the mine upon separation of said mine and float.

6. Iii asubmarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,hook-members on the mine and on the float adapted when engaged to holdthe mine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengagedby relative rotation of the mine and float, one of each pair of saidhook-members being provided with a roller which bears upon its opposedhook-member, and means adapted to fire the mine upon-separation of saidmine and float.

7. In a submarine mine, i111 combination with the mine proper, afloat,one of said elements having vertical projections provided withhorizontal extensions constituting bearing surfaces, and the other ofsaid elements having vertical projections pro-,

vided with rollers movable about horizontal axes, said rollers whenengaged with said bearing surfaces maintaining said elements in unitaryrelationship but adapted to be disengaged therefrom by relative rotationof said elements, and means adapted to fire ihe mine upon separation ofsaid mine and oat.

8. In a submarine mine, in combinationwith the mine proper, a float,means on the mine and on the float adapted when engaged to hold the mineand float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged byrelative movement of the mine and float, means centering said mine andfloat when in unitary relationship, and means adapted to fire the mineupon separation of the mine and float.

9. In a submarine mine, in combination with themme proper, a float,means on the mine and on the floatadapted when en- 'gaged to hold themine and float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged byrelative movement of the mine and-float, centering means for said mineand float comprising vertical bearing members on one of said elementsand horizontal rollers engaging therewith on the other of said elements,and means adapted tofire the mine upon separation of the mine and float.

10. In a submarine mine, in combination a with the mine proper, a float,members providing horizontal bearing surfaces on one of said elements,vertical rollers on the other of said elements, said members and rollerswhen engaged adapted to maintain said elements in unitary relationshipbut adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation .of said elements,centering means for said elements comprising members providing verticalbearing surfaces on one of said elements and horizontal rollers engagedtherewith on the other of said elements, and means adapted to fire themine upon separation of said elements. K

11. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,means on the mine and on the float adapted when engaged to hold the mineand-float in unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged byrotation of said float relatively to said mine,

means on the float to facilitate rotation of the same, and means adaptedto fire the mine upon separation of said'mine andfloat.

12. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,means on the mine and on the float adapted when engagedto hold the mineand float in unitary rela-f tionship but adapted to be disengaged by.

rotation of said floatrelativelytosaid mine,

unitary relationship but adapted to be disengaged by relativev movementof the mine and float, a lock for said means tending to move to unlockedtent for said lock.

14. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,means normally maintaining said mine and float in unitary relationshipbut adapted to be dis engaged by relative-movement of-the mine andfloat, a lock for 'said means, aspring tending to move said lock tounlocked position, and a soluble detent for said lock.

15. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,means normally maintaining said mine and float in unitary relationshipbut adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation of said mine andfloat, a lock to prevent said relative rotation tending to move tounlocked position, and a soluble detent for said lock.

16. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,means normally maintaining said mine and float in unitary relationshipbut adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation of said mine andfloat, a lock to prevent said relative rotation, a spring tending tomove said lock to unlocked position, and a soluble detent for said lock.

17. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, afloat,hook-members position, and a soluble de- 011 said mine and on said'floatadapted when engaged to maintain said mine and float in unitaryrelationship but adapted to be disengaged by relative rotation of themine and float, a lock normallymaintaining said hook-members inengagement but tending to move to unlocked position, and a soluble do.-tent for said lock.

18. In a submarine mine, in combination with the mine proper, a float,members presenting horizontal bearing surfaces on one of said elements,members provided with rollers movable about horizontal axes on the otherof said elements, said members adaptlocked-iposition, and solubledetents for retainingsaid pins in locked position.

19. In a submarine mine, in combination w1th'the"m1ne proper, afloat,means normally mamtam ng said mme and float in unitary relationship, andmeans for firing In testimony whereof I have signed this the mme uponseparatlon of said mine and speclfication Hgthe presence of twosubscrlbfloat, said means comprising a tensile memlng witnesses.

ber connected to said mine and float, a fun- EUGENE SCHNEIDER. nelwithin which said tensile member is nor- Witnesses:

. mally coiled, and percussion means operated CHAS. P. PRESSLY, by saidtensile member upon bec oming taut, EMILE BERTRAND'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe flo imissioner of i'atents,

Washington, D. (5.

